Two-stage bubble blower

ABSTRACT

A two-stage bubble blower includes a bubble blower body shaped like an open frame and defining therein a large bubble blowing opening and one or multiple main bubble solution-retaining portions for blowing a large bubble at a first stage when the user swings the two-stage bubble blower in the air, and bubble-blowing loops mounted in the bubble blower body each bubble-blowing loop defining therein a center opening and a sub solution-retaining portion for blowing a small bubble at a second stage when the user keeps swinging the two-stage bubble blower in the air after formation of the large bubble.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to bubble blowing toys and more particularly, to a two-stage bubble blower, which is operable to blow a large bubble at a first stage and then multiple small bubbles at a second stage.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional bubble blower is known comprising a large bubble ring A, a plurality of small bubble rings C spaced around the large bubble ring A, and a plurality of radial ribs B respectively connected between the large bubble ring A and the small bubble rings C. After the bubble blower retains a bubble solution, the user can swing the bubble blower slowly, causing a large bubble to be formed on the large bubble ring A and then moved out of the large bubble ring A. At this time, the user can swing the bubble blower rapidly, causing small bubbles to be formed on the small bubble rings C and then moved out of the respective small bubble rings C. This design of bubble blower can simply retain a limited amount of bubble solution for blowing one large bubble and a limited number of small bubbles once in each bubble solution pickup cycle. Further, the limited cross-sectional area of the small bubble rings C can simply retain a small amount of bubble solution for blowing small bubbles. Further, the small bubble rings C may break easily when the user operates the bubble blower to blow bubbles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a two-stage bubble blower, which is operable to blow a large bubble at a first stage and small bubbles at a second stage. It is another object of the present invention to provide a two-stage bubble blower, which enhances bubble-blowing efficiency.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a two-stage bubble blower comprises a bubble blower body shaped like an open frame and defining therein a large bubble blowing opening and one or multiple main bubble solution-retaining portions for blowing a large bubble at a first stage when the user swings the two-stage bubble blower in the air, and bubble-blowing loops mounted in the bubble blower body each bubble-blowing loop defining therein a center opening and a sub solution-retaining portion for blowing a small bubble at a second stage when the user keeps swinging the two-stage bubble blower in the air after formation of the large bubble.

Further, each bubble-blowing loop comprises a smoothly inwardly curved tapered face. The center opening and sub solution-retaining portion of each bubble-blowing loop are located on the center of the associating smoothly inwardly curved tapered face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bubble blower according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the bubble blower body of the two-stage bubble blower in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in section of Part A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a part of the two-stage bubble blower in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the bubble blower body in the extended condition.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6, illustrating the bubble blower body in the received condition.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section of Part B of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the formation of a large bubble during the first bubble-blowing stage.

FIG. 10 is another schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating small bubbles generated during the second bubble-blowing stage.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view in section of Part C of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The two-stage bubble blower comprises a bubble blower body 1, a plurality of bubble-blowing loops 2, and a handle 6.

The bubble blower body 1 is a substantially elliptical shaped open frame defining therein a large bubble-blowing opening 11. Further, the bubble blower body 1 comprises a main solution-retaining portion 12 formed of a plurality of equally spaced teeth 121 and extending along the inside wall of the bubble blower body 1 around the large bubble-blowing opening 11, a peripheral rib 13 extending around the periphery thereof, and a throat 14 located at one end thereof and formed integral with the peripheral rib 13 and fastened to the handle 6.

The bubble-blowing loops 2 are mounted in the bubble blower body 1 and spaced around the main solution-retaining portion 12 and the large bubble-blowing opening 11, each comprising a center opening 21, an inner solution-retaining portion 22 formed of a plurality of teeth 221 and extending around the center opening 21.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the bubble blower body 3 of the two-stage bubble blower in accordance with the second embodiment comprises an operating shaft 33, two solution-retaining bars 31 each having one end thereof respectively pivotally connected to the operating shaft 33 in such a manner that the user can operate the operating shaft 33 to bias the two solution-retaining bars 31 in direction toward or away from each other between a close position and a substantially V-shaped open position within a predetermined angle, and a folding bar 32 coupled between an opposite end of each of the two solution-retaining bars 31 and defining with the two solution-retaining bars 31 a large bubble-blowing opening 34. Each solution-retaining bar 31 comprises a third main solution-retaining portion 35 formed of a plurality of equally spaced teeth 351. The folding bar 32 comprises a first bar 322 and a second bar 323 pivotally connected together with a pivot 31 and respectively pivotally connected to the other end of each of the two solution-retaining bars 31 with a respective pivot 5, first and second main solution-retaining portions 324 and 325 respectively extending along respective inner sides of the first bar 322 and second bar 323. Further, bubble-blowing loops, referenced by 4, are mounted in the two solution-retaining bars 31 and the folding bar 32, each comprising a center opening 41, a sub solution-retaining portion 42 formed of a plurality of teeth 421 and extending around the center opening 41.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the user operates the operating shaft 33 to bias the two solution-retaining bars 31 to the substantially V-shaped open position, the first bar 322 and second bar 323 of the folding bar 32 are extended out. At this time, the cross-sectional area of the large bubble-blowing opening 34 reaches the maximum. On the contrary, when the user operates the operating shaft 33 to bias the two solution-retaining bars 31 to the close position, the solution-retaining bars 31 and the folding bar 32 are overlapped together to achieve one shearing action.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when using the two-stage bubble blower, insert the bubble blower body 3 into a bubble solution in a bubble solution container (not shown), enabling the third main solution-retaining portion 35 of each solution-retaining bar 31 and the sub solution-retaining portion 42 of each bubble-blowing loop 4 to retain a certain amount of bubble solution, as shown in FIG. 9, and then operates the operating shaft 33 to bias the two solution-retaining bars 31 to the substantially V-shaped open position. At this time, the cross-sectional area of the large bubble-blowing opening 34 reaches the maximum. Thereafter, the user can swing the two-stage bubble blower in the air, causing induced currents of air to enter the large bubble-blowing opening 34 in the bubble blower body 3 and to move the retained bubble solution out of the third main solution-retaining portion 35 of each solution-retaining bar 31 and the first and second main solution-retaining portions 324 and 325 of the first bar 322 and second bar 323 of the folding bar 32, thereby forming a large bubble 7. At this time, the user can operate the operating shaft 33 to bias the two solution-retaining bars 31 to the close position, thereby cutting off the end of the large bubble 7 from the bubble blower body 3, as shown in FIG. 10. When the user keeps swinging the two-stage bubble blower in the air after all the retained bubble solution has been moved out of the third solution-retaining portion 35 of each solution-retaining bar 31 and the first and second main solution-retaining portions 324 and 325 of the first bar 322 and second bar 323 of the folding bar 32, induced currents of air will go through the bubble-blowing loops 4, thereby producing small bubbles 8. Thus, the user can swing the two-stage bubble blower to blow a large bubble 7 at a first stage and a plurality of small bubbles 8 at a second stage.

FIGS. 11-14 illustrate a two-stage bubble blower in accordance with a third embodiment. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception that each bubble-blowing loop 4 in accordance with this third embodiment comprises a smoothly inwardly curved tapered face 422, a center opening 41 located on the center of the smoothly inwardly curved tapered face 422, a sub solution-retaining portion 42 formed of a plurality of teeth 421 that are formed integral with the smoothly inwardly curved tapered face 422 and spaced around the center opening 41. The design of the smoothly inwardly curved tapered face 422 can gather induced currents of air and guide induced currents of air through the center opening 41, enhancing bubble-blowing performance.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 11 again, the surface of the bubble blower body 1 provides a large area for retaining a large amount of bubble solution by means of surface tension. Further, the peripheral rib 13 of the bubble blower body 1 enhance bubble solution retaining capability subject to capillary effects.

In conclusion, the invention provides a two-stage bubble blower characterized in that the bubble blower body 1;3 provides first and second main solution-retaining portions 324 and 325 and third main solution-retaining portions 35 for blowing a large bubble at a first stage and sub solution-retaining portions 42 for blowing small bubbles at a second stage. Further, each bubble-blowing loop 4 comprises a smoothly inwardly curved tapered face 422 capable of increasing gas gathering efficiency and bubble solution retaining amount. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A two-stage bubble blower, comprising: a bubble blower body comprising a large bubble-blowing opening for blowing a large bubble and at least one main solution-retaining portion extending around said large bubble-blowing opening for retaining a bubble solution; and a plurality of bubble-blowing loops mounted in said bubble blower body and spaced around said large bubble-blowing opening of said bubble blower body, each said bubble-blowing loop comprising a center opening for blowing a small bubble and a sub solution-retaining portion extending around said center opening for retaining a bubble solution.
 2. The bubble blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bubble blower body is a substantially elliptical shaped open frame comprising a throat located at one end thereof and terminating in a handle.
 3. The bubble blower as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bubble blower body further comprises a peripheral rib extending around the periphery thereof.
 4. The bubble blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bubble blower body comprises an operating shaft, two solution-retaining bars, each said solution-retaining bar having opposing first end and second end, the first ends of said solution-retaining bars being respectively pivotally connected to said operating shaft in such a manner that said operating shaft is operable to bias said two solution-retaining bars in direction toward and away from each other between a close position and a substantially V-shaped open position within a predetermined angle, and a folding bar coupled between the second ends of said two solution-retaining bars and defining with said two solution-retaining bars said large bubble-blowing opening.
 5. The bubble blower as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said bubble-blowing loop comprises a smoothly inwardly curved tapered face and the center opening and sub solution-retaining portion of each said bubble-blowing loop are located on the center of the associating smoothly inwardly curved tapered face. 